Category Archive: Big Ideas
Descartes’ Rainbow
In Encyclopedia of the Exquisite I write about maraviglia, the marvels that 16th century and early 17th century European princelings expected from the artists they hired in order to keep themselves amused. Chief among these marvels were giochi d’acqua, or “water jokes,”…
I…flower
A stark wooden vitrine showcases a stunning work by the minimalist sculptor Carl Andre at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, “one hundred sonnets, I…flower.” To be honest, I didn’t know much about Andre as of three days ago. (And I…
Musings on Double-happiness
Lately, stomach I’ve been struck by the idea that happiness comes in two distinct varieties, information pills a notion introduced by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. By Kahneman’s lights, try there is experiential happiness, and there is memory-based happiness. The former…
Comments